Bowsprits

ABSTRACT

A bowsprit or davit assembly is for raising and lowering, and for firmly securing, an anchor. The assembly includes an elongate frame member, of a substantial U-shape in cross-section, adapted to be mounted on a surface (deck of a vessel). The, frame member includes respective front and rear U-shaped sections ( 2 ) and ( 1 ). The front section ( 2 ) includes respective first and second rotatable members ( 10 ) and ( 15 ) for receiving and guiding a rope or cable, the rotatable members ( 15 ) being displaced from one another in both the vertical and horizontal directions. An elongate member ( 20 ) extends between opposed wall members of the front section ( 2 ), at or in the vicinity of the uppermost free edges thereof. Opposed flaps ( 7 ) extend laterally normal of the outermost free end of opposed wall members of the front section ( 2 ).

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is the U.S. national stage application of InternationalApplication PCT/AU03/00490, filed Apr. 24, 2003, which internationalapplication was published on Nov. 6, 2003, as International PublicationWO 03/091091 A1 in the English language. The International Applicationclaims priority of Australian Patent Application PS 1983, filed Apr. 26,2002.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates, in general terms, to improvements inbowsprits or anchor davits, being assemblies or apparatus for use in theraising, lowering and securing (when not in use), of anchors.

THE PRIOR ART

The earliest forms of anchors employed with sea-going vessels involved asimple weight, such as for example a heavy rock, tied with a rope, chainor the like. Subsequently, however, anchors were designed which includedstructures allowing for such anchors to dig into the bottom of the bodyof water where the vessel was to be moored or anchored. For thispurpose, anchors of this general type included one or more flukes, orpointed members which would dig into the ground or footing. In order toorient the flukes so that they would dig into the ground and not merelylie flat on the bottom of the body of water, one or more cross-pieceswere attached to the bottom of the anchor crosswise to the fluke(s). Inthe result an anchor of this general type included the or each fluke, anextended shank to which the anchor cable of the ship or vessel wasattached, and a cross-piece to maintain the fluke or flukes in theappropriate orientation to ensure digging into the bottom of the body ofwater.

Nowadays, anchors have become in some ways more complicated and moresophisticated structures, the aim being to provide improved anchorageregardless of the nature of the bottom of the body of water wherein therelevant vessel is to be moored. One of the problems which has ariseninvolves the storing of anchors in such a way that they can be deployedquickly and easily, with a minimum of effort and reduced margin forerror, regardless of the expertise, or lack of expertise, of the personor persons executing such a task. Another problem has been found to bethe tendency, with known bowsprits, for chafing of the anchor rope,usually attached to an anchor via an anchor chain or the lie, due to theabrasive effect of rapid movement thereof during, for example, settingof the associated anchor. Such chafing, if not avoided, may ultimatelygive rise to severing of the anchor rope, in turn resulting in loss ofthe anchor, a potentially disastrous consequence for the vessel user(s).

The present invention therefore seeks to overcome the problems anddisadvantages associated with the known and presently in use bowspritarrangements or assemblies, by providing an overall bowsprit which has,to all intents and purposes, no moving parts, is stronger and hence moreresistant to the significant loads and stresses likely to be encounteredduring raising and lowering of an anchor, and wherein the likelihood ofjamming of the anchor rope or cable, and even the onset of severing orchafing thereof, is minimised, if not removed altogether.

Accordingly, the present invention seeks to provide an improvement meansfor raising and lowering of anchors.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided an improvedassembly for the raising and lowering of an anchor, said assemblyincluding an elongate frame member including: a first or rearsubstantially U-shaped section adapted, in use, to be mounted or securedto a deck or the like surface of a vessel, said first section beingadapted to receive and releasably retain a main shank of said anchorwhen said anchor is not deployed or in use; and a second or frontU-shaped section, depending longitudinally from said first section andadapted to extend from the deck of the vessel, wherein said secondsection includes respective primary and secondary rollers or pulleywheels for guiding a rope or cable of said anchor as it is raised andlowered, said rollers or pulley wheels being spaced apart bothlongitudinally and in the height direction of said second section.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood and put intopractical effect there shall now be described in more detail preferredembodiments of a bowsprit or davit assembly in accordance with theinvention. The ensuing description is given by way of non-limitativeexample only and is with reference to the accompanying drawings,wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a first embodiment of a bowsprit ordavit in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view, again in top perspective, of the embodimentof FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of a second embodiment a bowsprit ordavit in accordance with the invention; and

FIG. 4 is a exploded view, again in top respective, of the embodiment ofFIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A bowsprit or anchor davit is intended to be associated with any givensea-going vessel, to assist in setting and raising of an anchor and alsoto provide a means for receiving and returning such anchor when thatanchor is not in use or set. In that regard anchors as formally in usenowadays include, as their principal components, an elongate shankmember and a fluke or the like associated therewith. An anchor line,generally in the form of a length of chain or the like attached in turnto a length of rope (hawser) as attached in any suitable manner to theanchor itself. That anchor line is disposed so as to pass through thebowsprit or davit.

With reference now to the drawings a bowsprit or anchor davit inaccordance with the invention includes an elongate, substantiallyU-shaped frame or main body made up from a first or rear section 1,which is adapted to be preferably releasably affixed (in any knownmanner) to the deck of a vessel, and a second or front section 2 whichis adapted to extend over the edge of a structural member—as for examplea deck or the like surface—of a vessel on which the overall bowsprit ordavit is to be mounted. The U-shaped frame is made up from opposed sidewall members 3 and 4 extending longitudinally of the bowsprit from frontto rear thereof, and a substantially flat bottom or base 5,6 extendingtherebetween. Preferably the overall bowsprit is a unitary member,constructed from a material of a suitable strength, as for example steelor the like. The base 6 of the front section 2, however, preferablydepends at an acute angle downwardly from the base 5 of the rear section1. The overall bowsprit frame may be releasably attached to the deck orthe like surface of the vessel in any suitable manner and using anysuitable means, as for example one or more bolts and associatedlocknuts. To that end the base or bottom 5 of the rear section 1 may beprovided, at or in the vicinity of the rear section of the overallframe, with one or more pre-drilled or pre-formed apertures (not shown).

As shown in, for example, FIG. 1, the opposed side wall members 3 and 4are, over the length of the rear section 1, of a lesser height than overthe length of the front section 2. In accordance with a preferred aspectof the invention the rear section 1 of the bowsprit is of a greaterlength than the front section 2.

At the end of each side wall member 3 and 4 adjacent the outermostextremity of the front section 2 of the frame there is provided a shapedflap 7 extending substantially normally thereto. These flaps 7 functionto assist in feeding in of an anchor rope or chain to the bowsprit, toensure an acceptable degree of directional control therefor. They alsoprotect the anchor rope or chain from unwanted damage—as for examplefrom chafing, scraping or even severing—since there is thus no sharpsurface or knife edge to be engaged thereby. This is in marked contrastto known and currently in use arrangements, wherein the front edge ofside members of a bowsprit constitute an effective knife edge or cuttingsurface.

At or in the vicinity of the outermost free end of the front section 2there is provided a first or primary guide roller 10, extendinglaterally of the front section 2 and preferably mounted for rotationbetween the side members 3 and 4 thereof In the preferred embodimentillustrated the centre-line or rotational axis of the primary roller 10is disposed below the base of the rear section 1. This primary roller 10is intended to receive and guide an anchor rope and/or chain, during theoperation of raising or setting the anchor.

A variety of different methods and means may be provided for mountingthe roller 10 between the side members 3 and 4 of the front section 2.By way of example only, in the embodiment illustrated a bolt or the likemeans 11 (preferably of the standard hexagonal head type) may bedisposed laterally of the front section 2, such to be located in opposedapertures 12 extending through the opposed sides 3 and 4. A locknut orthe like means 13 can be employed to fix such bolt 11 in placetransversely of the front section 2. A support bushing or spacer tube 14may be disposed on the bolt 11, thereby to allow for rotation of theroller 10 as disposed thereon. Preferably the roller 10 will be of asubstantial V-shaped, having a groove formed centrally thereof. Theouter surface of the roller 10 may have a plurality of grooves formedtherein, whereby to enhance engagement of the anchor rope or chainthereby. The roller or pulley wheel 10 itself can be formed from anysuitable material, preferably a high strength plastics material.

Within the front section 2, and disposed rearwardly of the shapedprimary roller 10 and displaced upwardly therefrom, is a secondaryroller 15, in the preferred embodiments illustrated in the form of astraight roller of a suitable high strength plastics material. As withthe primary roller 10, this secondary roller 15 is mounted for rotationon a bolt or the like means 11, preferably with the interposition of abushing or spacer tube 14, with the bolt 11 and associated bushing 14and secondary roller 15 being releasably affixed transversely of thefront section 2, by means of a locknut 13.

At or in the vicinity of the uppermost top end of each side wall member3 and 4 of the front section 2 there is provided a means adapted toreleasably extend therebetween, thereby to maintain those uppermost endsa fixed distance apart from one another, and also to allow for releasingof the anchor line or chain as and if desired. In the preferredembodiment illustrated an elongate member 20 is provided, preferablythreaded at one end 21 thereof and having means 22 at the other endthereof to facilitate handling/turning, such elongate member 20 beingadapted, in use, to extend transversely of the front section 2 and toextend through complementary shaped apertures 23 provided in the sidesthereof. A locknut or the like 24 may be employed to secure thiselongate member 20 in place, against unwanted release through theeffects of vibration. The means for handling 22 can be in the form of ashaped and knurled end section which, in use, is disposed externally ofthe front section 2. The elongate member 20 preferably has at least oneprotrusion thereon, hereinafter termed a roll or tie pin, extendingsubstantially normally therefrom, such serving to prevent unwantedseparation of the elongate member or support bolt 20 from the overallassembly.

In an alternative embodiment, not shown, an annular sleeve or the likemay be provided on the internal surface of one side wall member of thebowsprit, at or in the vicinity of the uppermost edge thereof, saidsleeve or the like being adapted to receive, and releasably retain, thethreaded end of the elongate member 20.

The secondary roller 15 is mounted or positioned so as to have its axissubstantially in line with the base of the rear section 1. This is incontrast to known and previously in use arrangements, wherein a singleroller was mounted at a location relatively above the base of the rearsection, a configuration which has been formed to give rise to unduestresses on means employed for actually mounting the overall bowsprit tothe deck. These stresses have been known to result in undesirable andunwanted bending of the overall bowsprit. With the present arrangement,in effect all forces are kept substantially parallel with the mountingscrews or means, minimising any possible levering effect due to off-setloading.

The first or primary roller 10 is disposed well forward of the junctionof the respective front and rear sections 2 and 1. In the result therope or chain is extremely unlikely to come into contact with any metaledge, further reducing the likelihood of damage thereto (as by chafing,scraping or even cutting).

The hand-operated, releasable, solid screw-in bolt 20 extending acrossthe upper ends of the side members 3 and 4 of the front section affordsincreased rigidity and strength to the bowsprit when installed. Such anarrangement is substantially proof against unwanted release orrelaxation, as could occur with vibration in known arrangements.Furthermore, it ensures that the rope or chain cannot work free of theoverall bowsprit during retrieval of an anchor, as can be possible withknown arrangements.

The arrangement is such that, when the anchor is not in use, the shankportion thereof is located within the U-shaped main body, with the flukeor leading end thereof located at or in the vicinity of the outermostfree end of the second or front section 2. The anchor cable or line canthen be tied off internally of the vessel in any suitable manner,whereby to retain the overall anchor in place relative to the bowsprit.When it is time for the vessel to be moored or anchored, then the anchorcable/line is released and the anchor allowed to fall free from thebowsprit, to be deployed as necessary. When it is time to retrieve theanchor, then it is released from its footing and brought back into itsstorage location, within the bowsprit. The present arrangement, by itsvery configuration, generally facilitates there procedures.

The present applicant's arrangement of bolt or the like 11 andassociated bushing or spacer tube 14 for mounting of the rollers 10, 15affords increased strength and rigidity. With the primary roller 10, forexample, a heavy duty (metal) sleeve or bushing 14 is employed. As thebolt or the like 11 is tightened, the ends of this sleeve or bushing 14come into contact with the internal surfaces of the side members 3, 4 ofthe bowsprit. The end result is an extremely rigid and significantlystronger unit.

With the present applicant's arrangement, in the instance of undue wearof either of the rollers 10, 15, or other damage thereto, they can eachor selectively be readily replaced, or removed for repair. This is againin contrast to presently known and in use arrangements, wherein removalof the single roller for repair and/or replacement can be quite adifficult and time—consuming task.

By virtue of the fact that the respective rollers 10, 15 are arrangedspaced apart, both longitudinally and in a height direction within theoverall bowsprit, then the moment the anchor shank enters the primaryroller 10 the anchor fluke is drawn forwardly, in other words way fromthe bow of the vessel. This removes the possibility of the anchor,during retrieval, itself causing damage to the hull of the vessel.

The arrangement in accordance with the present invention is responsiblefor a number of practical advantages, when compared with the prior art,as explained hereinafter.

Firstly, and because of its size and configuration, it is suitable foruse with in effect any type and size of anchor now available. Theoverall dimensions are such as to allow it to cater for, receive orhouse virtually any anchor. No currently available bowsprit has thisflexibility of use.

Secondly it effectively guarantees that the anchor, as it is being drawnup, is righted and in the correct disposition to be properly housed andlocked away, regardless of how the anchor is originally disposed whenreleased from its setting.

The use of primary and secondary rollers prevents scuffing or damagingof the anchor rope, and also allows an anchor to free fall without anypossibility of jamming.

By being of a substantially integral or unitary construction, theoverall bowsprit is stronger and less prone to unwanted bending orflexing under load, when compared with the prior art arrangement.

The arrangement is such that the rope or chain cannot escape from theconfines of the bowsprit during retrieval of an anchor, hence minimisingthe likelihood of injury to the unwary or careless user.

It is to be understood that the dimensions of the bowsprit of thepresent invention may be varied to suit the mounting conditions, thesize of the anchors to be accommodated and other factors.

It is also to be understood that the present invention is not limited tothe structure precisely as illustrated. Thus, by way of example and notof limitation, the pulley wheel(s) could be mounted on a pair ofpivoting arms to move in much the same direction, or could be mounted ina track; the entire assembly could be mounted at a different angle, forexample, on a block of wood, instead of horizontal on the deck, and theanchor cable could take the form of a nylon rope or line, a wire rope,or an old-fashioned rope hawser, instead of a chain; suitable resilientelements or bumpers could also be employed in the structure.

Also, the assembly could be used to raise and lower, and to store,anchors of irregular configurations.

Finally it should be understood that the aforegoing description refersmerely to preferred embodiments of the invention, with variations andmodifications being possible thereto without departing from the spiritand scope of the invention, the ambit of which is to be determined fromthe following claims.

1. A bowsprit assembly for raising and lowering an anchor from a vessel surface, the anchor having a main shank coupled to a rope, said assembly comprising: a first substantially U-shaped section having a base adapted to be mounted directly to the vessel surface, the first U-shaped section arranged to receive and releasably retain the main shank of the anchor when the anchor is not deployed; a second substantially U-shaped section depending downwardly at an acute angle from said first section and rigidly connected to said first section, said second section having a free end arranged to extend from the vessel surface; and primary and secondary rollers both disposed within said second section and spanning the U-shaped of said second section, said primary and secondary rollers being spaced apart from one another both longitudinally and in the height direction of said second section; wherein both rollers are arranged to support the weight of the rope and guide the rope as the anchor is raised and lowered; wherein each U-shaped section comprises opposed spaced-apart elongate wall members and a base member disposed therebetween, said base member extending along at least part of the length dimension of each of said sections.
 2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said first section is adapted to be releasably attached to the vessel surface.
 3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the opposed wall members of said second section includes, at the free end thereof, an outwardly-extending flange that extends along at least part of the height dimension of the free end.
 4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said primary roller is mounted for rotation within said second section, with the axis of rotation thereof being disposed below the plane of the base member of said first section.
 5. The assembly of claim 4, wherein said primary roller is disposed along the free end of said second section, said primary roller extending transversely of said second section.
 6. The assembly of claim 5, wherein said secondary roller is arranged to rotate transversely of said second section, with the axis of rotation of the secondary roller being spaced rearwardly from said primary roller along said second section, and disposed above said base of said first section.
 7. A bowsprit assembly for raising and lowering an anchor from a vessel surface, the anchor having a main shank coupled to a rope, said assembly comprising: a first substantially U-shaped having a base adapted to be mounted directly to the vessel surface, the first U-shaped section arranged to receive and releasably retain the main shank of the anchor when the anchor is not deployed; a second substantially U-shaped section depending downwardly at an angle from said first section and rigidly connected to said first section, said second section having a free end arranged to extend from the vessel surface; and primary and secondary rollers both disposed within said second section and spanning the U-shaped of said section, said primary and secondary rollers being spaced apart from one another both longitudinally and in the height direction of said second section; wherein both rollers are arranged to support the weight of the rope and guide the rope as the anchor is raised and lowered; further comprising an elongate member adapted to extend between opposed wall members of said second section, at a location towards an uppermost extremity thereof, said elongate member adapted to extend through an aperture provided through one wall member and to be releasably affixed to the other wall member; wherein said elongate member is threaded at the end that is adapted to be releasably affixed to said other wall member; wherein said other wall member is adapted to receive, and releasably retain a threaded means that is adapted to receive, and releasably retain said threaded end of said elongate member.
 8. The assembly of claim 7, wherein said threaded means is a locknut adapted to be releasably located within a complementary—shaped aperture provided in said other wall member.
 9. A bowsprit assembly for raising and lowering an anchor from a vessel surface, the anchor having a main shank coupled to a rope, said assembly comprising: a first substantially U-shaped section having a base adapted to be mounted directly to the vessel surface, the first U-shaped section arranged to receive and releasably retain the main shank of the anchor when the anchor is not deployed; a second substantially U-shaped section depending downwardly at an acute angle from said first section and rigidly connected to said first section, said second section having a free end arranged to extend from the vessel surface; and primary and secondary rollers both disposed within said second section and spanning the U-shaped of said second section, said primary and secondary rollers being spaced apart from one another both longitudinally and in the height direction of said second section; wherein both rollers are arranged to support the weight of the rope and guide the rope as the anchor is raised and lowered; further comprising an elongate member adapted to extend between opposed wall members of said second section, at location towards an uppermost extremity thereof, said elongate member adapted to extend through an aperture provided through one wall member and to be releasably affixed to the other wall member; wherein said elongate member is threaded at the end that is adapted to be releasably affixed to said other wall member; wherein said elongate member comprises a knurled handle extending substantially normally from said other end.
 10. A bowsprit assembly for raising and lowering an anchor from a vessel surface, the anchor having a main shank coupled to a rope, said assembly comprising: an elongate U-shaped frame member having an aft end arranged to receive and releasably retain the main shank of the anchor when the anchor is not deployed and a forward end rigidly connected to said aft end and depending downwardly therefrom at an acute angle; said frame member having a base member that is generally horizontal in use and a pair of upwardly extending sidewalls spaced normal to the direction of elongation of said frame member, said sidewalls having upper edges and having lower edges that are joined to said base member along a portion of the length of said sidewalls; said frame member forming an anchor rode path extending in the direction of elongation of said frame member that is above said base member and between said sidewalls and extending from said forward end to said aft end; a first roller mounted between said sidewalls and adjacent said lower edges of said sidewalls to lie beneath said path at the forward end of said frame member; and a second roller aft of said first roller along said path, said second roller being mounted between said sidewalls and adjacent to said lower edges of said sidewalls to lie beneath said path formed in said frame member; an elongate member adapted to extend between said sidewalls, at a location towards an uppermost extremity thereof, said elongate member adapted to extend through an aperture provided through one sidewall and to be releasably affixed to the other sidewall; wherein said elongate member is threaded at the end that is adapted to be releasably affixed to said other sidewall; wherein said other sidewall is adapted to receive, and releasably retain a threaded means that is adapted to receive and releasably retain said threaded end of said elongate member.
 11. The assembly of claim 10, wherein said threaded means is a locknut adapted to be releasably located with a complementary-shaped aperature provided in said other sidewall.
 12. The assembly of claim 10, wherein said elongate member comprises a knurled handle extending substantially normally from its other end. 